« Une police des âmes » ?
For the French colonial administration in Africa, the knowledge of Islam was an imperial tool. The North African soldiers of the French army were Muslims and the management of these troops took in consideration their religious practices. In 1938 a corps of “Muslim military affairs Officers” was crea...
Guardat en:
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| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Idioma: | Français |
| Publicat: |
2017
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| Accés en línia: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Sumari: | For the French colonial administration in Africa, the knowledge of Islam was an imperial tool. The North African soldiers of the French army were Muslims and the management of these troops took in consideration their religious practices. In 1938 a corps of “Muslim military affairs Officers” was created to watch their morale and loyalty. During World War 2 and especially from 1943, North African Muslim soldiers were an important part of the French 1st army, accounting for a third of its strength. The respect for the Muslim rites was considered a factor of preservation of their loyalty and discipline. Despite the logistical difficulties, efforts were made to insure the rigorous observance of dietary restrictions, but the soldiers themselves took liberties with the ban of alcoholic drinks, asking for equal treatment with their non-Muslim brothers in arms. Distrust of potential applicants, however motivated the refusal to institutionalize a Muslim military chaplaincy on the same model as the others. |
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